Machine for making wire fencing.



Patented Dec. .24, I90I.

W. C. SMITH & J. HARRIS. MACHINE FUR MAKING WIRE FENGING.

(Application led July 25, 1900.)

5 Sheet-Sheet l. VW

(No Model.)

II 'I' W1. Wessres O III h lf3-gant??? z Q,

No. 689,430. Patented Dec. 24, |90I.

w. c. smml .1. HAnms.` momma Fon MAKING wma rename.

(Application led. July 25, 1900.)

(No Model.) Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' 1m; ctms Pinzas co. momm'na. wumuron. n. cA

No. 689,430. y v Patented' Dc. 24,-I90I. W. C. SMITH &. J. HARRIS. I

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FENGING.

(Apumion mea .my 2s, 1900.) (No Model.) v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Dec. 24, I90I.

W. C. SMITH G. J. HARRIS. MACHINE FOR MAKINGWIBE FENCIHG.

(Appufion 'med July 25,1900.)

5 sheets-sheet v4.

(No Model.)

No. 639,430. Patented nec. 24, mol, y

w. c. SMITH & .1. HARRIS.

MACHINE FOB MAKING WIRE FENCING.

(Application filed July 25, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

ne nu. Pmmnrrm vus UNITED STATES "PATENT [OFFICE WILLIAM C. SMITH, OFGLENVILLE, AND JONATHAN HARRIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO SIMEONC. DAVIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING.

SEEGIFICATION brmng part of Letters Patent Nc., 689,430,` dated December24,1901.

Application filed July v25. 1900. Seriallilo. 24,776. (No model.) f

T0 all whom, it Huey concern:

resident of Glenville, and JONATHAN HARRIS, a resident of Cleveland,county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, citizens of the United States, haveinvented a new and useful Im prot-ement in Machines for Making WireFences, of which the following is a specification, the principle of theinvention-being-herein eX- plained and the best mode in which 'we havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

Our invention relates to machines for manufacturing wire felices; and itconsists of means for feeding looped cross wires or stays uponline-wires and securing same upon the latter, as will be hereinafterfully described.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting but one of various forms in which the principle oftheinvention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a rear elevation of thedevice. Fig. II represents a top plan. Fig. III represents a sideelevation viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. II;Fig. IV, a vertical cross-section taken upon line 4 4, Fig. II, andviewed in the direction indicated by the arrowin said figure; Fig. V,adetail perspective View of a segment for operating the slidable tableused in mydevice; and Fig. VI, a detail cross-sectional view. of theupper portion of the machine, showing said table and portion of themachine supporting and operating same. Figs. VII, VIII, and IX representenlarged detail side and front elevations and a top plan, respectively,of one of the locking-heads forming a part of our invention. Figs. X,XI, and XII are enlarged detail perspective views of the guiding-strips,showing a locking-head in side elevation; and Figs. XIII and XIV areperspective views of the joint formed between the line and cross wires;and Fig. XV represents a detail crosssectional view of one of thelocking-heads, showing adjacent portions of the machine in verticalsection.

nals secured to downwardly-depending arms c', secured to a cross-bar O',forming part of a vertically-reciprocating frame C. Said frame isprovided with lateral guiding-rollers c2, which roll in guideways a,formed in the frame, as shown insaid Fig. III. vals along the cross-barO are secured a series of npright'bars C3, having their upper endsforked, as shown in Fig. VII, the tines of each fork being located atthree corners of a rectangle, so as to permit themV to contact threepoints'of a joint formed by the cross and line wires. Said cross-bar isprovided at each end with a projecting portion c3 and is movablevertically7 independently of the upper part C2 vof the frame C during aportion` of the reciprocating movement of said frame.

Such result is accomplished by disconnecting said bar from the mainframe portion and providing rests CL2 for arresting the downward`movement of the frame before the downward stroke of the cross-bar C iscompleted. The forks hence continue their downward movement a shortdistance after the completion of the downward stroke of the main framepor-V tion Oand travel upwardly a short distance before the said frameportion begins its up'- Ward movement.

Upon the main frame portion C' are formed horizontal guideways d, Fig.IV, upon which is Vmounted a slidable table D. The reciprocation of thistable is effected by means'of a segment d', journaled upon a standardcl2, secured to said frame A. Said segment is formed with twocontact-surfaces d3 and 034, the one d5 being further removed from thesegments pivotal axis than is the other, as shown in Fig. V. A set-screwa3 is secured to a suitable standard secured to the machineframe and isadapted to engage the surface d* during the upward movement of theframe,

At intertion, such as a spring CP2.

ment d engagesy a rack d5 Fig. VI secured to said table D, and impartsits motion tothe latter. Such motion is hence inward during the downwardmovement of the frame C and outward during the upward movement oftheframe.

At intervals equal in number and distance from each other to the numberof and distance between the loops upon the cross-wire which it isdesired to secure upon the line-Wires are a series of guiding-troughsd6, secured to the table D, each adapted to receive a loop upon thecross-wire. Over each trough extends a guiding-strip d?, whose lower endextends quite closely to its trough, as shown in Fig. XV. Above theseries of guiding-strips C27 is journaled in bearings and secured totable D an oscillatory shaft D,which is provided with a series of'fingers d8, which are located at points intermediate of the trough d6,as shown in Fig. II. The oscillatory movement of shaft D is derived froma chain d, passing over a sprocket d10, one end of such chain beingsecured to the end of a bell-crank d, Fig. IV, and the other to aflexible connec- Said bell-crank is actuated as will hereinafter bedescribed. Such connection causes the shaft D/ to oscillate, so as toactuate the fingers d8 in a downward direction on the forward movementof the table D.

Below the table and transversely ofthe machine are located twolongitudinally-slidable rods e, Fig. IV, mounted in suitable bearingssecured to the machine-frame. Upon said rods are rigidly secured uprightarms e', provided with placing-fingers e2, projecting upwardly beyondthe lower portion of the troughs d6. The inner ends of said two rods areeach connected with links e3, each of which in turn is connected with apivoted arm E, oscillated by cam b, the oscillation of which arm effectsthe reciprocation of said rods e and the placing-fingers e2.

Connecting the upper ends of the two bellcranks E is a transverse bare4, upon which are secured upright guiding-fingers e5, which guide theline-wires laterally, such bar being reciprocated by said bell-crank E',actuated by cam b.

Across the top of the machine is located av longitudinally-placedsupporting-bar F, upon which are secured a series of clamping devices orlocking-heads G. (Illustrated in enlarged view in Figs. VII, VIII, IX,X, XI, and

XII.) One such head G is located above, back, and has its field ofoperation in the same vertical transverse planes as are thefeeding-troughs d, Each such head is provided with twodownwardly-diverging or V- shaped grooves ff?, placed at right angleswith each other, the one groove being in transverse alinement with oneof said guidinggrooves. The location of such heads is, further, suchthat one such head is placed verticallyabove each of the forked ends ofthe upright bars C3. Each head is provided with two oscillatory shaftsfand j", which derive their oscillating movement from two crossbars Gand G2, the series of shafts fbeing connected with bar G by means oflevers f2, with one of which each shaftfis provided, and the series ofshafts f being connected with bar Gla through the. medium of a series ofleversff", with one of which each shaft f is provided. The bars G and G2are respectively reciprocated in opposite directions by means ofbell-cranks g and g and rods g2 and g3, actuated by two cams h2, Fig. I.Each shaft is provided with a short arm f4 and f5, respectively, fLbeing of male'formation and f5 of female, as shown in Figs. X and XI.rFliese arms are placed upon their respective shafts so as to act in adirection upwardly toward each other so as to close and downwardly so asto open. The loops, which are formed upon the stays or cross-wirespreviously to the time they are fed to this machine, are formed with twocurved sides, (illustrated in Fig. XIV',) and the lengths of the twoarms are such as to cause the male arm to travel a distance greater thanthat of the female arm when the loop is located in their respectivefields of operation. The one side of said loop is made of greatercurvature than is the other, as shown, the method and machine forforming such loop vbeing fully described in our application, Serial No.22,730, filed July 6, 1900. Such differences of curvature of the loopsides and travel of the two arms cause the one loop side to overlap theother after the formation of the lock, as will further appear. Theintersection of the two grooves]EG and'f'i forms the eld of operation ofsaid two arms]c4 and f5, and in said field is placed a die F', whoseintaglio is of concave formation flanked by two walls fs, such die beingplaced in said field so as to project downwardly, with the walls on thetwo sides of the grooves passing longitudinally of the machine-that is,parallel with the cross-wire,as illustrated in Fig. IX.

Suitably mounted with their axes parallel with the operating-shaft are aseries of reels I-I, J, K, and L, H and L being the line-wiresupply reeland the winding-reel for the completed fence, respectively, the tworeels .I and K being guiding-reels for guiding the line- Wire into themachine and the completed fence onto the windingreel, respectively. Thelatter reel lalso feeds `the line wires through the machine.. Suchfeeding operation ICO IIO

is eected through the medium of a ratchetwheel J', secured to the shaftof the reel K, a roller j, secured to the end of an arm J2, pivoted upona pivoted arm J E, the roller vbeing kept in engagement with theratchetwheel by a spring j', secured to the opposite end of such arm, asshown in Fig. IV. Said arm J3 is oscillated by means of a cam b',thereby by the aid of a spring J 4 eifecting the intermittent feed ofthe line-wires by the consequent intermittent rotation of the reel K. Inaddition to contributing to the feeding operation, arm J 2 effects theoscillation of bell-crank d through the medium of a pin jg whichcontacts the upper ends of the arm C111 as will be readily understoodfrom Fig. IV.

The cams are timed and connections made soas to cause the device tooperate as follows: Assuming the frame C to be in its lowermost positionand the operating-shaft to be rotating, the table D is at or near theforward end of its stroke and a feeding operation has just beencompleted, so as to advance the line-wires, and a cross-wire has justbeen placed .into position upon such line-wires directly beneath theheads G, such placing operation being further described. The next voperation which takes place is the elevation of the bars G3, which isfollowed by the elevation of the main frame portion C2. During suchelevation of the bars C3 the forked ends of the latter lift thecross-wires and linewires upwardly into the field of operation of theclamping-heads G. Before reaching the field of operation of theclamping-arms in such heads the segment d contacts the setscrew as andcauses the table D, with its attached guides dT and troughs d, to bequickly withdrawn from such field into its forward position, therebypermitting the fence-wires to freely enter the clamping-heads. As soonas the crossed wires have entered the heads the arms f4f5 are caused toexecute one oscillatory movement, during the first half of which theyare caused to approach as a result of the operation of the oscillatoryshafts fand f' through the medium of the two crossbars G and G2. Duringsuch approach the said arms engage and bend the two sides of the loop,the one side being, as before stated, caused to overlap the other as aresult of the previously-described operation and construction of saidtwo arms, both portions being pressed upon the line-wire. The length ofsuch stroke is caused to be such as to cause the loop to be bent over,as described, prior to the end of such stroke, during the cornpletion ofwhich the line-wire is pressed intov the die F to form a locking-crimp,as shown in Fig. XIII, for preventing longitudinaldisplacementthereoffromtheloop. Whilesuch last described operation istaking place a cross-wire is fed into the troughs d6,the formed loopsbeing placed in the trough-grooves. The subsequent recession of theframe C is followed by the advance of the table, the oscillatingmovement ofthe feeding-fingers d3, which carry the cross-wiresdownover'the line-wires, and the advance of the placingfingers e2, whichcarries the cross-wires under the clamping-heads, tlieguiding-strips d7holding it down upon the line-wire until the latter part of the upwardstroke of the frame C, when the table is quickly Withdrawn, aspreviously described. The forward movement of the table is eifected bythe contact of the surface d3 with the dog a4 during the upward strokeof the frame. The return of the Itable is accompanied by the return ofthe placing and feeding fingers. Following each clamping operation afeeding operation is effected for advancing the line-wire through themedium of the ratchet-wheel J and its connection, previously described.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means covered by any -one of thefollowing claims be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention- 1. In a machine for building wire fence from looped verticalwires and longitudinal wires, the combination of a frame adapted tosupport the working parts,formingheads depending from a transverse barupon the frame, and provided with oscillating jaws,means for feeding thelongitudinal wires and transverselyplaced sta f-wires at predeterminedintervals underneathsaid forming-heads, for raising said wiressimultaneously to bring the crossings and loops into engagement with thepend ing jaws, and for operating the jaws.

2. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination withmechanism for feeding IOO longitudinal and transversely-laid verticalwires, the said vertical wires being provided withtransversely-projecting loops at predetermined intervals, offorming-heads underneath which said wires pass, said heads beingprovided with transversely-placed slotsv IIO extremity for thelngitudinal wires, guidingreels adapted to receive the wire therefrom,other guiding-reels upon the same level as the said first-named reels,the said reels being adapted to draw the wire directly underneath theforming-heads whereby the longitudinal and looped vertical wires arepassed to the forming-heads, a reel upon which the finished fence iswound, a vibrating fork or linger adapted to feed thetransversely-placed vertical wires to the forming-heads and means forcompressing the loops in the formingheads for operating the wire-feedingdevices and for retaining the wire-crossings in the heads while theloops are being compressed.

4. In a machine for bending the loops of a fence-stay over thelongitudinal wires, a forming-head provided with transverse grooves forthe wire-crossings, in combination with jaws mounted therein onoscillating wrists, the said jaws being adapted to move toward and fromone another and engage the sides of the loop, and aformer provided witha recess into which the longitudinal wire is crimped, and shouldersinclosing the ends of the loop.

5. In a machine for bending the loops of a fence-stay overthelongitudinal wires, aforming-head provided with grooves transverselyplaced at right angles therein to receive the wire-crossings, incombination with oscillating and interlocking 'jaws adapted to engagethe sides of said loops.

6. In a machine'for bending the loops of a fence-stay over thelongitudinal wires, a forming-head provided with grooves transverselyplaced therein to receive the wire-crossings, in combination withoscillating jaws adapted to compress the sides of the loops, keepersadapted to retain the wire-crossings in engagement with the jaws, andmeans for feeding the stay-wires into position to be engaged i crossing,in combination with oscillating jaws adapted to compress the sides ofthe loops, keepers adapted to retain the wire-crossings inengagement-with the jaws, means for feeding the stay-wires into positiontobe engaged by the keepers, and for securely holdin g them to prevent'twisting of the loop thereon until the jaws have acted upon the loops.

S. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with the fixedforming-heads, underneath which the lateral wires pass, and are fed atpredetermined intervals; means for feeding looped stay-wires thereto,consisting of fingers secured to an oscillating shaft; upper and lowercurved guides for the stay-wires, the lower guides being trough shapedand in which the stay-wires pass to the formingheads; and verticallingers secured to reciprocating bars, adapted to engage the staywireswhen dropped by the oscillating fingers and convey them to theforming-heads.

9. The combination with fixed formingheads, underneath which the lateralwires pass; of means for feeding looped stay-wires thereto, and forholding them in position, consisting of a horizontally-reciprocatingbar, mounted upon a vertically-moving frame; an oscillating shaft uponsaid bar, upon which are secured curved feed-fingers; upper and lowerguides for stay-wires, the lower being trough-shaped for theintroduction of said loops; feed-lingers mounted upon ahorizontally-reciprocating rod and adapted to engage the stay-wires asthe oscillating fingers leave them, and means for operating the severalparts.

v 10. In a wire-fence machine, feeding mechanism for looped stay-wiresconsisting of the combination with standards of the machine and theforming-heads secured upon a transverse bar between them; of a frameadapted to rise and fall between the standards, a bar mounted uponhorizontal guides in the standards and provided with racks at eitherend; means for reciprocating the bar on the guides, consisting ofsegmental gears pivoted upon standards upon the said frame; meanssubstantially as described for operating said segments, an oscillatingshaft provided with curved lingers; upper and lower guides for thestay-wires the lower guides being troughshaped to receive the loops, andlingers vertically placed upon reciprocating bars, and adapted to engagethe stay-wires as the curved fingers leave them.

ll. In a machine for securinglooped staywires to lateral wires, thecombination with a main frame and stationary forming-heads; of means forfeeding the lateral wires underneath said heads at regular intervals;and feeding mechanism for the stay-wires consisting of oscillating ngersadapted to force said wires down-upon the lateral wires; upper and lowerguides for said stay-wires the lower guides being trough-shaped toreceive said loops; means vfor reciprocating said guides horizontallyand vertically to and from said heads; reciprocating fingers adapted toengage said wires when released by the oscillating iingers and conveythem to a central position underneath said heads;verticallyreciprocating keepers adapted to rise and press thewire-crossings into engagement with the said heads; and forks adapted tosecure the lateral wires when the forming-levers are at work.

12. In feeding mechanism for the stay-wires of a wire fence; a framevertically reciprocating in guides in the main standards of the machine;a bar mounted in horizontal guides in said frame; an oscillating shaftprovided with curved fingers mounted upon this bar; upper and lowerguides, upon said bar, the lower guides being trough-shaped to receivethe loops upon said stay-wires; and mechanism for horizontallyreciprocating said bar to move forward as the said frame falls andbackward as the frame rises.

13. In feeding mechanism for the looped stay-wires of a wire fence, avertically-recip- IOO said bar and guides are thrown backward as theframe rises and forward as the frame falls. 15

Signed by me this 23d day of July, 1900. WILLIAM C. SMITH. Attestf D. T.DAVI'E's, A. E. MERKEL. Signed by me this 16th day of July, 1900.

S JONATHAN HARRIS.

mark Attest:

HENRI G. IDE, E. S. MARSH.

